Thermostatic air valve



Aug. 15, 1933- TOMAN I 1,922,266

THERMOSTATIC AIR VALVE Filed March 1932 ZULU/(me! [Z 7677mm Patented Aug. 15, 1933 THERMOSTATI C AIR VALVE 7 Michael E. Toman, Chicago, 111., assignor to E. Toman & (10., Chicago, 111., a Corporation of Illinois Application March 10, 1932. Serial No. 597,934

" 8 Claims. (01.236-101) This invention relates to devices for supplying additional air to the mixture entering the intake manifoldof an internal combustion engine, after the air passage.

the engine is warmedup and running properly, but which will automatically cut off or reduce said supply of air while the engine is starting.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of thermostatic valve, for the above purpose, which will tend toren der a device of this charactermore satisfactory in use.

i A special object is to provide a thermostatic device of this kind with a hand-operated supplemental valvefor, in effectyadjusting the size of Another object is to provide a novel and improved construction of thermostatic valve whereby the seating of the valve, when the device cools oii, will be more accurate than heretofore. t

Another object, is to provide a thermostatic valve device of :this kind with a perforated cap or intake which will tend to exclude dirt irom the air which is thus permitted to enterthe intake manifold of the engine, and which will also tend to prevent whistling. t

' It is also an object to provide certain details and specific features of construction tending to increase the general efficiency and desirability of a thermostatic valve device of this particular character. t t

To the foregoing and otheruseful ends,the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing, in Whicht Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle engine provided with a thermostatic or intake de-' vice embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the said thermostatic valve device. 1 t Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3--3 in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4--4 in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a thermostatic valve device 1, preferably located on the exhaust manifold 2 of the internal com bustion engine 3, and connected by a pipe4 with the air intake 5, leading into the intake manifold 6 at a point immediately above the carburetor '7 of the engine.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the said thermostaticvalve device comprises a casting or fitting 8 to which the pipe coupling 9 is suitably connected, by the screwjthreads shown, this fitting having a longitudinal air passage 10 therein, communicating with the .pipe connection. The inner end of said casting 8 has a square shank portion 11, provided on one side with a recess 12, in which one end portion of the U-shaped bi-metal thermostatic strip 13 is held in place by a single screw 14, in the manner shown in the drawing. The opposite sides of the shankportion 11 are provided with the air intake. openings or ports 15, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The other end portion of the bi-metallic thermostatic spring 13 is provid ed with a U-shaped valve member 16, more or less loosely held in place thereon by the swivel 17, as shown. The member 16 is preferabh, made of bi-metallic thermostatic material. A screw 18, provided with an outer handle 19 is provided for more or less insertion into the air passage 10, thereby constituting a hand-valve for,

in effect, adjusting the size of this passage. Pref: erably, airiction spring20 is provided, of any suitable character, to engage the circumferential groove 21, formedin the handle portion of thescrew 18, therebyto frictionally hold the screw against rotation in any desired position thereof." A

As a matter of further and special improvement, the thermostatic valvedevice thus provided has a cylindrical casing 22, provided with a reduced end portion 23, enclosing the casting or fitting 8, previously mentioned. To hold the casing in place, the edges 240i said reduced portion are fbent or' spun into position, forming an opening through which thecoupling 9 extends, as shown. .The outer end of the casing 22 is pm vided with a cap or closure 25, preferably telescoped therein, as shown, and provided with a tapered outer end portion 26, having a plurality of air intake openings 27 therein. This closure tends to prevent the entrance of dirt into the valvedevice, and because of its formation is also the heat of the exhaust manifold 2 is transmitted to the thermostatic spring 13, the latter then expands and opens the valve member 16 into the position shown in the drawing. This uncovers the ports 15, thereby permitting air to enter the passage 10, and the pipe 4, and this air is conducted into the manifold 6 at a point immediately above the carburetor, thereby to automatically make the mixture thinner, as soon as the running condition of the engine becomes normal. The member 16, being made of bi netallic thermostatic material, will not only move in the direction caused by the thermostatic action of the spring 13, but in addition, the side portions of this member 16 will move away from the sides of the shank 11, thus in effect opening the ports 15 before they are fully uncovered. By some experimental adjustment of the hand-valve handle 19, the size or capacity of the passage 10, suitable for any particular engine, can be determined easily. Because of the loose swivel connection 17, any inaccuracy of the movement or action of the spring 13 will have less tendency to cause any binding or other undesirable action of the member 16, in the seating of the valve, when the thermostatic device becomes cold again. Previously, some diiiiculty was experienced with valve devices of this kind, when the said U-shaped valve member was made absolutely rigid with the thermostatic spring but by using the said loose swivel connection, it is found that the difficulty is eliminated or greatly reduced.

With the construction shown and described, it will be seen that the casting orfitting 8, which in effect serves as the body member of the valve, is structurally separate from the pipe coupling 9, whereby the entire thermostatic valve device can be removed without breaking the connection between the coupling and the pipe or tube.

With the valve member 16 loosely mounted on the spring, it will be seen that it can more easily adjust itself, not only bythe thermostatic action of the spring and the valve. member itself, for the proper closing of the air inlet, but it also tends more or less to accommodate itself to the suction of the air entering said inlet.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a thermostatically controlled air valve,-

with one portion loosely attached to the spring,

and the looseness of said member on said. spring serving to permit said member to more easily adjust itself in closed position.

. 2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said loose connection comprising a swivel permitting relative pivotal movement between the spring and valve member, about an axis extending transversely through said body.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said valve member being of thermostatic metal, having a side portion which moves outwardly away from said body when subjected to heat.

4. In a thermostatically controlled air valve, the combination of a body provided with a lateral air inlet opening, a thermostatic metal spring removably fastened to said body at one end and provided at its other end with a movable valve member to control said opening, said body being recessed on its side to receive the held end portion of the spring, with a single screw extending through the spring and into the body, thereby to hold the end portion of the spring removably seated in said recess.

5. Ina thermostatically controlled air valve, means forming a thermostatically opened and closed air valve, with a body forming an air passage, a casing or housing therefor provided with a reduced end portion rigidly fitted upon the outer end portion of said body, and a separate pipe coupling extending through the opening of said end portion and detachabiy engaging said body, for connecting a pipe or tube thereto.

6. In a thermostatically controlled air valve, the combination of means forming the thermostatically opened and closed valve, a cylindrical casing or housing for said valve device, and an inlet closure for the end of said casing, said closure being tapered outwardly at its center and having a plurality of openings in the wall thereof, serving to prevent entrance of dirt into the casing, and serving to prevent whistling when the valve is open.

7. in a thermostatically controlled air valve, thecombination of a body having an air inlet passage therein, with thermostatic valve means on said body to open and close communication fromsaid passage to the atmosphere, a screw threaded in said body in position to extend into said air passage, and a handle for the outer end of said screw, whereby in elfect the size or capacity of said passage may be adjusted or changed.

8. A structure as specified in claim 7, said screw having a circumferential groove between the handle and the screw proper, together with spring means for frictionally engaging said screw, thereby to frictionally retain the screw in adjusted position.

MICHAEL E. TOMAN. 

